The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-08-12
MY TWIN BROTHER.

young face that laughed back at me was
that of handsome, happy, and very fortu-
nate girl.
Good morning, Miss Lydia Searle," l
said. And il all goes well with us you
won't be Miss Lydia SearIe at all this time
next year, but Mrs. Harry Hatten, instead"
L: wanted but three weeks OF my wedding
day. l was as happy as l was busy Just
then, for l lOyed the man whose bride l was
soon TO become, with all a young girls
warm. untried affection.
Better than any one In the world but
Tom," l Thought And surely nobody
could or ought to be dearer to me than
Tom"
Tom was my twin brother The usual
strong affection existing between twins was
exceptionally powerful in our case-from
circumstances.
One OF US was born strong and robust.
and the other frai. and small, Notwith
standing my sex. was the favored one by
nature. while Tom was the weakly twin.
That was the first of his misfortune, which
naturally gave him claim on me, and made
him cling to me as a heartier, manlier boy
would not have done. The second misfor-
tune was that he resembled our father
Poor fellow AS II he could help that
And yet Uncle Elliott resented it in him Just
as II he had been 10 blame for It.
Not a fraction Of my money shall 90 to
the second Tom Searle, he used 20 say.
And he kept his word. He had adopted
US at poor mothers death. Our father had
died years before. He gave US both good
education, and got Tom a position in bank !;
but when he dIed-just year before that
twentieth birthday OF mine-I was his sole
heIrsss-
IL grieved me terribly. loved Ten far
better than myself, and would have shared
anything with him but he was proud, poor
! sIasr and vUnni1n't ba-- - 49,
SO the best | could do was to spend as
much money upon him as possible, and lend
hIm all be wanted TO use. He had no OBJ
lection to that, because. as he would say
Some Of these days, when I'm a partner
in the bank, I'll pay it all back again.
Lyddy"
And, of course. it was quite probable that
some day be would be partner, since was
about TO be married to the bankers only
son and heir
l was puzzled sometimes to know what
Tom did with so much money; he had
"specuIations on hand" be told me. 1
agant, tOo-perhaps inclined to be wild
lie is so young and so handsome" |
thought
was always making excuses for him to
myself but, OF course, common sense taught
me that If he would be steader, and attend
to business better. his chances of promotion
at the bank would be improved
As l thought of him on that birthday
Dorning-Of course, it was his birthday too
the face in the glass ceased to smile, and
new anxiety crept into my thoughts, l was
thinking Of the night before.
Tom had acted very strangely. bad
!ain awake a long time thinking of II last
night and a vague uneasiness smote me as /
remebered . now; what could have allied
him?
He had come in. at about ten O'Clock. to
the little parlor where Harry and 1 were sit
ting together. and remained with US, restless,
agitated, nervous, and showing so plainly
that he wished TO see me alone, that Harry,
half vexsd, half amused, took the hint and
left US.
And then he asked me for money.
No trifiing sum. either. he impI0re1 me.
almost wildly. to give him six hundred
pounds, then and there, for Gods sake?"
He almost took my breath away. J Dad
no such sum OF money in the house, Of
course. nor could / get II on such short
notice. My fortune consisted OF real estate,
from which / derived a moderate income.
ana few thousands in ready money, which
what with Toms extravagance, and my own
preparations for my marriage, were nearly
gone.
Quite sghast at his agitation. as we'll as
AZ his request, Explained TO him the utter
in possibility of compliance He said not
word, but dropped into a seat, and sat look
| inL at me as IL stupefied
/ Every yestige OF color had gone from his
! fair. handsome face and the delicate, clear
/ cut fearures looked haggard and caTeworn.
| pank shot through my heart as 1 saw his
| distress. ! ceased to care or wonder what
| the money was wanted for. I knelt beside
him.
"I'H get Il for You Tomorrow" / said, !
eff have to mortgage my property; don't /
despair; only wait until TOMORROW, my
dear
As my hand touched his lie started and |
looked down at me. He was never very |
stOng or brave-never ft to battle with 4
trouble. l. seemed to have crushed him l
now; tears fell from his eyes upon my
face.
Never mind - he moaned. "pOor Lyd-
DIV Poor girl r. he pared my hand fondly. |
II know you'd give il to me II you could
All. I've been a bad brother to you, dear I,
Say you forgive me to-nIghtr'
And OF course ] said so-said so weeping.
His manner distressed me so but / did
not know what there was to forgive
l was wiser before that birthday was
half over, though the knowledge seemed the
greatest calamity OF my life.
"Som ething has gone wrong at the hank
Harry told me. He broke the bitter news
20 me as gently as he could, and with a
grave, pale face. six hundred bounds,
which had been entrusted to Tom to deliver
somewhere several weeks ago, had not
been accounted for and-there were errors.
too, in his accounts
i heard no more. InsensibIlIty snatched
me for awhile from the agony OF Toms
ruin and my own disgrace.
For must not his sister share his dishonor?
felt that bitterly at frst-I who had been
so proud Of him. But by-and-by indigDa-
tion, shame, anger, all gave place TO love
and love- anxiety. Tom was missing.
What mattered II TO NE that be had sinned?
He was still my brother, and i loved him.
had not waited for that, however, before
taking steps to shield him from the conse-
quences of his crime.